Method and apparatus for drinking

ABSTRACT

An apparatus including a first container having a first open end and an opposing second open end, a second container having a first open end and an opposing second closed end, and a device for allowing or restricting access to an inner chamber of the second container through the open second end of the first container. The device may be connected at the second end of the first container and inserted into the second container. The device may include a first and a second device. Each of the first and the second device may have a surface, partially open and partially closed. In a first state in the open parts of the surfaces are aligned and access is allowed to the inner chamber; and in a second state closed parts of the surfaces of the first and the second device are aligned and access is inhibited to the inner chamber.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus concerning drinking receptacles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are various devices known in the prior art for drinking receptacles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In at least one embodiment, an apparatus is provided comprising a first container having a first end which is open and an opposing second end which is open, a second container having a first open end and an opposing second end which is closed, and a device for allowing or restricting access to an inner chamber of the second container through the open second end of the first container.

The device for allowing or restricting access may be connected at the second end of the first container and inserted into the second container. The device for allowing or restricting access may include a first device and a second device. The first device may have a surface a part of which is open and a part of which is closed. The second device may have a surface a part of which is open and a part of which is closed. The apparatus can be placed in a first state in which the open parts of the surfaces of the first device and the second device are aligned and access is allowed to the inner chamber of the second container; and the apparatus can be placed in a second state in which the closed parts of the surfaces of the first device and the second device are aligned and access is inhibited to the inner chamber of the second container.

The first device may have threads and the second device may have threads and the first device and the second device may ave connected together by the threads of one of the first or second device being screwed into the threads of the other of the first or second device. The first device and the second device may be connected together so that the first device can rotate with respect to the second device. The first device may be fixed to the first container at the open end of the first container. The second device may be fixed to the second container inside of the second container.

One or more items may be stored in the inner chamber of the second container. The one or more items may include a tea bag, fruit, and/or other items. Each of the first container and the second container may be in the shape of a truncated cone. Each of the first device and the second device may be exactly or substantially in the shape of a round disc.

In at least one embodiment a method is providing comprising attaching, to a second end, which is open, of a first container, a device for allowing or restricting access to an inner chamber of a second container through the second end of the first container; and inserting the second end of the first container, into the second container, while the device for allowing or restricting access is attached to the first container. The device for allowing or restricting access, the first container, and the second container may be configured as previously described. The method may als include inserting one or more items into the inner chamber of the second container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top and front perspective view of an apparatus including a first container, a first device, a second device, and a second container, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, with the first container, the first and second device, and the second container shown separated from each other;

FIG. 2 shows a top and front perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, with the first container, the first device, and the second device connected together, and with the second container shown separate;

FIG. 3 shows a top and front perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, with the first container, the first device, the second device, and the second container connected together;

FIG. 4 shows a top and front perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, with the first container, the first device, the second device, and the second container connected together, and with the second container shown as transparent so that a compartment or chamber within the second container can be seen, and a tea bag within the chamber can be seen;

FIG. 5A shows a top and front perspective view of the first container of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5B shows a top view of the first container of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5C shows a top and rear perspective view of the first container of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5D shows a bottom view of the first container of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6A shows a top and front perspective view of the second container of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6B shows a top view of the second container of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6C shows a top and rear perspective view of the second container of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6D shows a bottom view of the second container of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7A shows a top and front perspective view of the first device of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7B shows a bottom and rear perspective view of the first device of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8A shows a top and front perspective view of the second device of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8B shows a bottom and rear perspective view of the second device of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9A shows a top and front perspective view of the first device attached to the second device of the apparatus of FIG. 1, with the first device and the second device placed in a first state with respect to each other; and

FIG. 9B shows a top and front perspective view of the first device attached to the second device of the apparatus of FIG. 1, with the first device and the second device placed in a second state, with respect to each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top and front perspective view of an apparatus 1 including a first container 2, a first device 10, a second device 20, and a second container 30, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, with the first container 2, the first device 10, the second device 20, and the second container 30 shown separated from each other. FIG. 2 shows a top and front perspective view of the apparatus 1 of FIG. 1, with the first container 2, the first device 10, and the second device 20 connected together, and with the second container 30 shown separate. FIG. 3 shows a top and front perspective view of the apparatus 1 of FIG. 1, with the first container 2, the first device 10, the second device 20, and the second container 30 connected together. FIG. 4 shows a top and front perspective view of the apparatus 1 of FIG. 1, with the first container 2, the first device 10, the second device 20, and the second container 30 connected together, and with the second container 30 shown as transparent so that a compartment or chamber 32 within the second container 30 can be seen, and a tea bag 40 within the chamber 32 can be seen.

The first container 2 includes peripheral wall 2 b having an inner surface 2 e and an outer surface 2 d as shown by FIGS. 1, and 5A-5D. The first container 2 also has a top opening 2 a and a bottom opening 2 c as shown in FIGS. 5A-5D.

The first device 10 has a peripheral wall 10 a having an inner surface 10 c and an outer surface 10 b, as shown by FIGS. 7A-B. The first device 10 includes outer peripheral threads or outer ridges 10 f on the outer surface 10 b as shown in FIGS. 7A-7B. The first device 10 also has an opening 10 e and a closed surface 10 d as shown in FIGS. 7A-7B. The region, area, or size of the opening 10 e may be about half the total surface area of the region 10 d plus the region or area of the opening 10 e.

The second device 20 has a peripheral wall 20 a having an inner surface 20 c and an outer surface 20 b, as shown by FIGS. 8A-B. The inner surface 20 c has inner threads or inner grooves 20 f. The outer threads 10 f are configured to be screwed into the inner threads 20 c, to attach the first device 10 to the second device 20. The second device 20 also has an opening 20 e and a closed surface 20 d. The area, region or size of the opening 20 e may be not more than half the total surface area of the region 20 d plus the region of the opening 20 e.

The first device 10 can be connected to the second device 20 as shown in FIGS. 9A-9B, by screwing the inner threads 10 f of the first device 10 into the outer threads 20 f of the second device 20. The combination of the first device 10 and the second device 20 can then be attached to the first container 2, such as for example, by having the inner surface 10 c of the first device 10 surround a bottom part of the outer surface 2 d of the first container 2 and attaching the first device 10 to the first container 2 as shown by FIG. 2. In at least one embodiment, the first device 10 may be permanently attached, such as by permanent glue, or such as by being an integral part of, the first container 2, in the location as shown in FIG. 2. The inner surface 10 c may at least partially overlap and come in contact with the outer surface 2 d of the first container 2.

After the combination of devices 10 and 20 have been attached to the first container 2 as shown in FIG. 2, the combination of devices 10 and 20 and the first container 2 may then be inserted into the second container 30 such as by inserting the bottom of the combination of 10, 20, and 2 into the top opening 30 a of the second container 30. The width and/or diameter W1 of the second device 20 shown in FIG. 2, in at least one embodiment is larger than the width and/or diameter D1 of the bottom surface 30 c of the second container 30 shown in FIG. 6B, so that the combination of the first container 2, and the first and second devices 10 and 20 shown in FIG. 2 cannot be pushed further into the second container 30 than as shown in FIG. 4, so that a gap or chamber 32 remains available for storage. An object, such as teabag 40 can be stored in the gap or chamber 32 as shown in FIG. 4.

In at least one embodiment, the first device 10 may be permanently connected to the first container 2, at the location shown in FIG. 4, while the second device 20 may be permanently connected to the inside surface 30 e of the second container 30 at the location shown in FIG. 4. The combination of the first container 2 and the first device 10 can then be screwed into the combination of the second device 20 and the second container 30, by screwing the outer threads 10 f of the first device 10 into the inner threads 20 f of the second device 20.

In at least one embodiment, in operation, the first device 10 is fixed to the first container 2, so that the first device 10 does not rotate with respect to the first device 10. The second device 20, in at least one embodiment, is fixed, to the inner surface 30 e of the second container 30 so that the second device 20 does not rotate with respect to the second container 30. Then the combination of the first device 10 and the first container 2 can be screwed into the combination of the second device 20 and the second container 30. In at least one embodiment there are sufficient threads 10 f and 20 f provided to allow the combination of first device 10 and first container 2 to rotate with respect to the combination of second device 20 and the second container 30, to place the apparatus in different states while maintaining attachment of the combination of container 2 and device 10 and the combination of device 20 and container 30.

Unless the first device 10 is completely screwed into the second device 20, the first device 10 can be rotated, with respect to the second device 20, while devices 10 and 20 are attached, by rotating the first container 2. In at least one embodiment, the first device 10 can be placed, by rotation of the first container 2, into a first state, such as shown in FIG. 9A in which the openings 10 e and 20 e substantially overlap each other, allowing access to the chamber 32 so that a teabag 40 or other object inside of the chamber 32 can be accessed. The first device 10 can be placed by rotation of the first container 2 into a second state, such as shown in FIG. 9B in which the opening 10 e of the first device 10 is closed or substantially closed by the surface 20 d of the second device 20 and in which the opening 20 e of the second device 20 is closed or substantially closed by the surface 10 d of the first device 10. The second device 20 is effectively held by adhesive or any other many to the inner surface 30 e of the second container 30, so that when the first container 2 is rotated with respect to the second container 30, or vice versa, the second device 20 does not rotate while the first device 10, which is fixed to the first container 2, does rotate. This allows access to the chamber 32 to be opened or closed, in at least one embodiment.

The chamber 32 may have enclosed therein various items. For example, fruit, powdered food, drink mix, tea, coffee, and other various items may be enclosed in the chamber 32.

In at least one embodiment, the first device 10 may be permanently molded and/or attached to the first container 2 and/or the first device 10 and the first container 2 may be a one piece unit.

In at least one embodiment, the second device 20 may be permanently molded and/or attached to the second container 30 and/or the second device 20 and the second container 30 may be a one piece unit.

In at least one embodiment, the first device 10 fixed and/or permanently molded to the first container 2 may be inserted into the second container 30, in which the second device 20 may be fixed and/or permanently molded to the second container 30. Thereafter, threads of the first device 10 can be screwed into, or otherwise attached to allow rotation, to the second device 20.

In at least one embodiment the first device 10 and the second device 20 may be described as being a device for allowing or restricting access to the inner chamber 32 of the second container 30.

In at least one embodiment, items may be placed in the chamber 32 by a manufacturer and in at least one embodiment, consumers would not place items in the chamber 32. In at least one embodiment, access into the reservoir portion or chamber 32 would solely by handled by manufacturers and/or commercial distributors of the apparatus 1.

Although the invention has been described by reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to include within this patent all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of the present invention's contribution to the art. 

I claim:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a first container having a first end which is open and an opposing second end which is open; a second container having a first open end and an opposing second end which is closed; and a device for allowing or restricting access to an inner chamber of the second container through the open second end of the first container; and wherein the device for allowing or restricting access is connected at the second end of the first container and inserted into the second container.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the device for allowing or restricting access includes a first device and a second device; wherein the first device has a surface a part of which is open and a part of which is closed; wherein the second device has a surface a part of which is open and a part of which is closed; wherein the apparatus can be placed in a first state in which the open parts of the surfaces of the first device and the second device are aligned and access is allowed to the inner chamber of the second container; and wherein the apparatus can be placed in a second state in which the closed parts of the surfaces of the first device and the second device are aligned and access is inhibited to the inner chamber of the second container.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first device has threads and the second device has threads and the first device and the second device are connected together by the threads of one of the first or second device being screwed into the threads of the other of the first or second device.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first device and the second device are connected together so that the first device can rotate with respect to the second device.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first device is fixed to the first container at the open end of the first container; and the second device is fixed to the second container inside of the second container.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising one or more items stored in the inner chamber of the second container.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the one or more items include a tea bag.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the one or more items include fruit.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the first container and the second container is in the shape of a truncated cone.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the first device and the second device is substantially in the shape of a round disc.
 11. A method comprising attaching, to a second end, which is open, of a first container, a device for allowing or restricting access to an inner chamber of a second container through the second end of the first container; inserting the second end of the first container, into the second container, while the device for allowing or restricting access is attached to the first container; wherein the first container includes a first end, which is open and which is opposite its second end; and wherein the second container has a first open end and an opposing second end which is closed.
 12. The method of claim 11 further comprising inserting one or more items into the inner chamber of the second container.
 13. The method of claim 11 wherein the device for allowing or restricting access includes a first device and a second device; wherein the first device has a surface a part of which is open and a part of which is closed; wherein the second device has a surface a part of which is open and a part of which is closed; wherein the first device and the second device can be placed in a first state in which the open parts of the surfaces of the first device and the second device are aligned and access is allowed to the inner chamber of the second container; and wherein the first device and the second device can be placed in a second state in which the closed parts of the surfaces of the first device and the second device are aligned and access is inhibited to the inner chamber of the second container.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the first device has threads and the second device has threads and the first device and the second device are connected together by the threads of one of the first or second device being screwed into the threads of the other of the first or second device.
 15. The method of claim 13 wherein the first device and the second device are connected together so that the first device can rotate with respect to the second device.
 16. The method of claim 13 wherein the first device is fixed to the first container at the open end of the first container; and the second device is fixed to the second container inside of the second container.
 17. The method of claim 12 wherein the one or more items include a tea bag.
 18. The method of claim 12 wherein the one or more items include fruit.
 19. The method of claim 11 wherein each of the first container and the second container is in the shape of a truncated cone.
 20. The method of claim 13 wherein each of the first device and the second device is substantially in the shape of a round disc. 